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It’s not even 12 hours since my last exam as an undergraduate…and I’m already bored. As both my parents pointed out to me on separate occasions today, I have a whole week of unscheduled time before they arrive for graduation. What shall I do with this wealth of time? I attempted to combat boredom this afternoon by cleaning out my e-mail inbox and making a study-snack for my roommate (who still has a few more exams to complete). I also assembled a tentative list of activities to occupy my time over the next week:

Continue with my recipe development project—I’ve got four more to finish.

Catch up on all the television and magazine reading I’ve missed for, oh, the past 9 months.

Complete my graduate school applications…because this free-time can’t last forever.

Begin packing for the beach!

Any other suggestions? What do you like to do when you find yourself with unexpected leisure time?

While you’re brain-storming, I’ll provide you with a glimpse of today’s fuel:

Before flouncing off to my exam this morning, I poured myself a big bowl of my beloved GoLean. I shall never tire of this cereal—even though my dad says it looks like Kibbles N Bits, I lurve it.

After a celebratory run, I made myself a big salad using last night’s leftovers. Gasp! Caroline’s eating leftovers! The tofu was dang tasty straight from the fridge—no need for re-heating.

In addition to my recent freezer foraging, I’ve also been digging through my cupboards. This evening I discovered a can of butternut squash puree, so I decided to throw it into my pot of chili, acting as a substitute for pumpkin in my favorite Pumpkin Bulgur Chili recipe.

Alright, I think it’s time I got started on my stack of Self magazines. Good night.

19 Responses to “Now What?”

The chili with pepitas sounds like such a fun combo.
I honestly can’t offer advice but can really relate. Last night, I just felt useless. Good thing I got 2 paper assignments to do today(how that’s a good thing, I have no idea.)

Congrats on being done! Such a good feeling. I have a little more downtime now that my classes are over, but now I just feel like a regular worker; I still have a 40 hr work week, just no classes on the side. I’ve been enjoying being outside a lot!

Your ideas for free time sound great! I wish I were more creative with my recipes. I’m not so great at thinking up new ones.

My goodness…that chili looks so delicious! When I have unexpected leisure time, I like to take a bubble bath while listening to music. It sounds sooo lame, but it is the most therapeutic thing ever. Also, if it’s nice out, a stroll with an iPod is also grand.

Read a book,
Take a bubble bath with candles,
Feng Shui a room,
Go somewhere nearby that you always say you’ll go but never have,
Go to a movie,
Catch up with old friends,
People watch in a coffee shop,
Go shopping!,
Go to a concert,
Go to an art gallery,
Have a girly night in with friends,
Rearrange or organise your books/room or something,
Volunteer for an afternoon with a charity,
Get all dressed up and fancy and do your hair and make up all nice for just an ordinary day,
Rent a box-set and challenge yourself to finish it,
Do something you’ve been meaning to do for a long time,
Go on a photo trip, just wander through the city or neighbourhood or whatever and capture the beautiful things you never noticed before,

That’s just a few, let me know if you decide to do any of them. Free time is the best, don’t take it as something you have to do and make a chore of it, enjoy it, relish in it, it’s not as common out there in the real world as we all would like.